I’m live-blogging my SAS EuroBonus SkyTeam Million Mile challenge this week. Click here for background and route information.
We finally reached Ho Chi Minh City, a city I had flown through a couple of times more recently but had not visited since 2010…it was great to be back (after clearing immigration). But what really made the evening special was spending it with my son Augustine at the Park Hyatt Saigon.
A Very Special Return To The Park Hyatt Saigon
I fondly recall staying at this hotel for the first time with my brother so many years ago now and sitting in the lobby lounge as the piano was gently played and music sweetly sung in the evening. I was hoping there would be live music in the Park Lounge in the evening and indeed, there was. But we had some things to do first…
We checked in and were not upgraded to a suite, perhaps because I had booked two beds. No matter, the room was quite comfortable and would do the job perfectly well for our one-night stay.
Our first order of business was swimming…something we missed out on in both Madrid and Paris. Thankfully, the pool was still open and we quickly changed into our swimming trunks (and kudos to the Park Hyatt for proactively placing a small robe in the room for Augustine…I had booked the room for one adult and one child and specified the age and the robe fit very well).
It was a beautiful evening and we enjoyed a nice swim for an hour, then retreated to the whirlpool and steam room.
We changed and headed downstairs. It was just after 8:00 pm and the music had begun. We took a seat in the Park Lounge and ordered drinks…a gin basil smash for me and a lemonade for Augustine.
It was so lovely to sit and listen to the gentle singing…it brought back the fondest memories of traveling with my brother and I was thrilled to now share the experience with my son.
In fact, we got so comfortable that we decided to eat dinner in the Park Lounge…salmon for me and a hamburger for Augustine.
The tiramisu for dessert was absolutely exquisite!
It was such a nice way to spend a couple hours in Ho Chi Minh City.
I was ready for bed after this, but Augustine wanted to workout…
The workout helped him fall asleep…
Early the next morning (unfortunately, our flight was at 9:05 am) we arose for breakfast. Thankfully, it began at 6:00 am.
WHAT. A. TREAT.
I had forgotten how wonderful the breakfast was at this hotel and we both enjoyed a very hearty and delicious breakfast, a perfect way to start the day.
By 7:00 am we were on our way back to the airport after a lovely 12-hour stay…what a shame it could not be 12 days.
In all seriousness, this delightful stay made me so sad we could not take a more leisurely pace on this trip. Imagine nights like this in every city. Well, maybe in the future…it’s what we always say to console ourselves.
I cannot recommend this hotel strongly enough.
You cannot beat luxury hotels in Asia. They are the best.
You reminded me the episode of The Nanny, where Fran Drescher tested a guy by asking if he knew what is Tiramisu.
It’s so funny you mention that.
My wife comes home from work and watches The Nanny to unwind after a long day…I’ve started watching it with her. What a great show (though we are only in season one).
It’s just a clean, often hilarious 20-40 minute break before bed. I am enjoying it.
Some people enjoy the Socialist Republic of Vietnam but I do not want to visit one of the remaining Communist countries. They are enemy. They are worse than China.
Also a growing US trading partner and counterbalance to PRC in the region, especially with the two at odds over the South China Sea.
@Matthew … Respectfully , even the Philippines , with self-defense forces , is not a counterbalance to China in the South China Sea . China has taken over the South China Sea with artificial islands and military outposts . The Indochina commie countries are in full economic , strategic , and ideological compliance with China .
The US is the counterbalance, but best if the Philippines and Vietnam are on the US side.
@Matthew … Respectfully , Vietnam is Not on the U.S. side in any way . Schoolchildren in Vietnam study how they blew up Americans , and sing songs celebrating those who blew up Americans . The three countries of Indochina are very much in debt to China economically and ideologically . If anyone in Vietnam spoke publicly about supporting Americans , they would be called in by the commie party “neighborhood committees” and placed on a suspect list , or worse .
The Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia upon which America can depend .
The reltaionship is improving, especailly as Vietnam increasingly views the US as a better partner than China.
https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-vietnam-relationship-celebrating-10-years-of-comprehensive-partnership-and-28-years-of-diplomatic-relations/
@derek … +1 . The people are serfs dressed up in costumes , with profits divided between the commie bosses and the overseas investors . No freedom of speech nor freedom of thought . The commie bosses give the orders .
However , not worse than China . China is the penultimate Big Brother , whose tentacles strangle Hong Kong’s freedoms . North Korea is the ultimate Big Brother .
Not a fan of its politics, and I can say that about a lot of countries (including some democracies). But it’s one of the more economically dynamic countries nowadays and an increasingly reliable US ally.
I have the Asian part of my own run for the 1 million SAS points left but I can do it at a more leisurely pace.
I’m with GUWonder.
Obviously, I don’t like elements of the government or the propaganda signs posted all over Saigon. It’s an odd nostalgia, it seems like, for the past, but it does look backward rather than forward.
That said, the government is moving in the right direction and this is not the Vietnam of the war era.
Saigon has so much more to offer than just a nice hotel. Too bad you didn’t have time to go out and tour.
People throwing shade at Vietnam should visit there before forming opinions.
I cannot wait to go back and spend more time there. Hopefully my next trip to Vietnam can include Hanoi as well.
It is a lovely hotel.
Truly a great hotel. Coconut iced coffees at breakfast are FIRE!
I visited the Soviet Union for my work a few times in the 1980s. Nice hotels, great restaurants — for the foreigners with hard currency. Very different story for Soviets, who stood in line down the street to buy their daily loaf of bread and a chance to buy a chunk of some kind of meat in a foul-smelling “gastronome.” My translator for the week had a little boy (maybe 3 years old) with a fever and she couldn’t get one lousy aspirin for him. Her mother was a physician, btw. I gave her mom some Tylenol and she said she’d but it down and give it to the kid. It was a fine place if you stayed in the fancy hotel and ate at the fine restaurant. Look a little deeper in the communist country, if you have the time and the interest, and it’s a very different picture.
@John A … +1 . Sounds very much like the DDR (East Germany ) . Superficially OK for the visitor , but a living hell for the inmates .
Your timing is perfect. We flew through Saigon last night on a ticket to manilla on Vietnam airways and we are in the manilla airport after getting no sleep wondering why we didn’t stay at the park Hyatt Saigon! Way to rub it in! Our 8 year old loved the breakfast at the park Hyatt in Guangzhou in case you guys haven’t made it that way yet. Buy a kids swim cap because they won’t let anyone in the pool on the 61st floor without one!
I greatly enjoyed the Park Hyatt Guangzhou:
https://liveandletsfly.com/review-park-hyatt-guangzhou/
Glad to hear it is still nice!
My wife and I adore this hotel and the breakfast is just superb.